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4.23.2014

Well hello! My laptop was left in California last week to be fixed by my FIL, so I have had to commandeer Billy's command station in order to get my computering in. Which also makes it a little tough to blog.

To keep things simple, I will give you another Twinsday Wednesday post, in which I show you how much I want to be like Casey and Jamie from Real Suburbia :) In this episode, we are finishing the sentence! Feel free to play along, even though there is no link up button on their page. Tell them in comments if you do decide to use these prompts, too!

People always tell me... That I look like Hilary Duff. I'm serious. All. The. Time. But that's cool, because she's adorable and successful and totally hot, so I think of it as a compliment. Sometimes I see it more than others. You tell me. Here are some H.Duff pics that I can see the resemblance in.

First thing in the morning I... after snoozing a few times, I check my phone. I keep my phone on silent at night, so I always have a few emails, texts and notifications to look through. I am completely attached to this technology.

I don't ever regret... marrying young. Oh boy, there were a lot of worried people who had something to say about getting married at 22. Billy was my best friend before we even started dating, and I knew just a few months after meeting him (at 18!) that he was the man I was going to marry. He completes me. I kind of wish I had the style taste, experience, and money available that I do now for the wedding back then!

If I told you once, I've told you a thousand times... drink more water!! Not only does your entire body depend on water to function, but drinking plenty of water helps with the outside as well in giving you a clear face and hydrating your skin.

A song I'm loving now... anything off the Haim album Days are Gone. It's a band of 3 sisters with a sound that is a little 80's and just so catchy. I can't pick a favorite, but I think My Song 5, Let Me Go, Honey & I, If I could Change your Mind, The Wire, Forever, and Falling are all amazing. I practically just gave you a track listing for the album, though haha

My usual Starbucks order is... grande unsweetened iced green tea. I will add a splenda packet every once in awhile, but that's it. When I feel like being particularly indulgent, I go for a caramel mocha.

And there you have it, my version of the Twinsday Wednesday prompts from Real Suburbia!

4.22.2014

Go check out my girl Cassie's blog to see if she has a yummy recipe for you today!

So today, I am giving you a recipe that while new to me, is probably not new to anyone else. I actually got the idea from a recipe that Raven of Don't Quote the Raven posted recently in her healthy living posts. I changed it a tiny bit to accommodate my preferences. You can do the same thing! Make any additions or subtractions that suit your tastes, steal this recipe and make it yours. I am trying to be better about my eating by incorporating more veggies, and making smarter choices. Not easy for a self-professed sugar-holic, but I'm trying, as you can see by this recipe, which I had for two meals yesterday.

Add any toppings you may like. I added a serving of tortilla chips to one of my meals, but avocado, cheese, etc. would be great.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375F

Split your spaghetti squash in half and remove the seeds. Place cut side down on a cookie sheet that's been coated with cooking spray or foil. Bake for 45 minutes, flip the squash over and bake until flesh is tender, which for me was 15 more minutes. You can also microwave the squash, I think for 7 minutes or so, if you are short on time.

Allow squash to cool, then use a fork to scrape the inside of the squash to create spaghetti like strands. Dump into a bowl.

Add taco seasoning to squash and mix until thoroughly incorporated. Add black beans and pico. Dish out and enjoy.

4.21.2014

Tonight, I have the pleasure *sarcasm font* of taking a 6 hour online driver safety course to offset a speeding ticket I got back in February. It took me until after 5pm to start it, even though I paid for the course way earlier. I was doing everything to avoid it, really.

Do you ever do that, put something off because you know it won't be very enjoyable? *hand in the air*
I do it all the time.

Last week was a total whirlwind of travel, weddings, hair appointments, and fitting in time to see friends and family in the spare time I barely left for myself. It was really fantastic though. At least being home, around my wonderful network of friends and family, and being familiar with my surroundings.

While in California, I discovered I am super home sick. Like I teared up multiple times just thinking about all I had left behind in my move to Texas, even though I was currently enjoying it. It was hard for me to keep a positive attitude about the move when I was so immersed in the California I miss so much. Especially when California is peacocking her gorgeous spring colors and sunny, mild weather. Guess who took the state flower, orange poppies, for granted most of her life, but misses them terribly now? Oh yeah, me.

I psycho-analyzed myself on these sad feelings. What? It's totally a thing. I figured that I am more homesick for CA now, because everything there is easy. It's easy to see friends, my family, and it's easy to get around without GPS squawking at me because I know where everything is. It's easy to find beautiful run and bike trails that I'm familiar with. Most of all, I feel confident in California.

In Texas, things aren't so easy. I know all of 3 friends who live within an hour of me. An hour!! I have practically no clientele built here in Austin. I mean, I haven't had a single return client, so currently there is no clientele to speak of. Work is hard for me. I have posted a Groupon, advertised on Craigslist, and offer hair services to every person I meet, but haven't seen much return for my efforts. I have to babysit regularly in order to be able to pay my salon rent. That sucks, let me tell you. Though I know how to get around my neighborhood and generally how to get around Austin, I absolutely use my GPS all the time because everything is so new to me here. I have been running and biking on the same few routes because I don't know where else to go. I feel insecure in Texas.

Of course, Texas will feel like home and I'll become more confident while things become easier the longer we are here. I am a rational person, I understand this fact. However, I am also an instant gratification person. I want everything now. Maybe things would be different if I had come out here with a job in place that provided a workplace full of people to be my new social network and possible friends, but instead I work with a few girls at a small salon and we are all clamoring for every client that walks in.

So now,. rather than whine and complain, I'm trying to do something about my woes. To battle my move blues, that stem mostly from lack of close friends, I am joining more Meet Up groups, with the intention of actually attending the events so I can meet more people. I mean, I've been on Meet Up for a long time, but only attended a few events, hah. I also plan on joining a gym in the area so I can take group classes. Billy says I shouldn't look at the gym as a place to get fit, but as a place to network, make friends, and find clients. Sure, honey.

Have you ever made a big move, away from all of your family and friends? How did you cope, make friends, and find things to love about your new home? Share your insights, opinions, and ideas with me in a comment, or email me! hairbyadrian@gmail.com

4.15.2014

Hello, blogger world! I've been silent again, which seems to be my new MO, so I figured I'd clue you in to what has kept me away. Also, I apologize for any crazy formatting issues, I'm posting from my phone.

First of all, I've been a traveling fool! Nothing vacation-y, just some trips to each coast for work.

April 4-6 I headed to the East Coast. I flew into Philadelphia, took the train to the suburbs, and was driven to New Jersey. We were literally on the border between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, having just the Delaware river to divide the state. I crossed the Delaware river at the same place George Washington did so long ago. I just did it over a bridge, rather than in a boat.

My friends Olivia and David got married at the Hollyhedge Estate in New Hope, Pennsylvania, which is what brought me out that way. Olivia and David actually live in California, but are originally from back east, so they had their wedding in Olivia's hometown. My friends Kate and Danielle made the trip out from California, so we got to hang out and support Olivia throughout the day.

I did hair and makeup for the girls, and then did something completely new, I officiated their wedding! I know, crazy, right? I think it went well, but I'm not adding wedding officiant to my resume. The next day I hoped back in the car to the train that took me to the airport and spent my day getting back to Austin.

David and Olivia had one of their dogs, Ceili, be their ring bearer, how cute is that?

Five days later, I found myself back at the airport, this time heading to California! I booked a wedding for this past Saturday, then filled up a few days at the salon seeing clients and friends. I've had two full days in the salon so far, and have two more before I head back to Austin on Thursday.

I'm having fun seeing my clients and friends and getting to do the work I love so much! I did an extreme makeover haircut on my friend Michelle, snuck in a bridal trial for the wedding that is bringing me back to California in two weeks, and did a lot of refreshing and sprucing up of cuts and colors, with fancy blowouts to boot.

I've found ways to sneak in fun, because all work and no play makes me a tired and sad girl.

Saturday evening I headed over to Danielle's house for a girls night. We're a little unconventional in our choice of activities, but we had fun! We ate pizza and desserts, colored Easter eggs, watched Austenland, and had a great time just hanging out together. Danielle's two Maltese dogs are pretty wonderful also.

I'm completely enjoying spring in California, from admiring the beautiful green mountains and wild flowers, to walking through downtown Campbell and visiting my favorite shops and restaurants when I have down time, as infrequently as that is with my packed schedule.

Today I realized that I can be both happy and sad about something that is so simple. I'm so happy to be back in California because everything here is easy. I know where everything is, I have a client base that is dying for me to do their hair, my family and friends are all here-- all of that makes life easy. I'm sad that it's not easy like this in Texas, where I call home. Sure, within a few years, Texas can become easy too, but I'm an instant gratification person. It's hard for me to look ahead and be OK with less than awesome right now. I don't like feeling like this, so I'm working on that. I'm making plans for how to meet more people and build my clientele, I'm figuring out how to keep myself both busy and happy, I'm actively going to look for more friends, I'll explore the Austin area until it's as easy for me to navigate as San Jose. It will take time, but eventually with work, I'll find that easy feeling in Texas.

4.09.2014

After playing along unofficially last week with Casey and Jamie of Real Suburbia for their Twinsday Wednesday post, they decided to create a link up out of it! Which makes me feel much better, because I was feeling a little creepy stealing their prompts and answering them myself, without a twin to make it a real Twinsday.

Casey made my evening when she texted me Tuesday and told me it would be an official link up, and then gave me the prompts ahead of time. It really works in your favor to be best friends with the link up host. So here I go, being a part of the very first ever Twinsday Wednesday link up! Head over to Real Suburbia and get your link up on!

Finish the sentence:

The most organized part of my life is... My business. But even that has its shortfalls {like all my tax stuff that sits in a box until January when I start organizing for the dreaded appointment with my CPA}. But really, I have a pretty organized way of categorizing, responding, and filing e-mails from brides, a paper appointment book for salon clients, a note app on my phone with all of my weddings, and a calendar on my phone to help keep me organized with it all.

The most disorganized part of my life is...pretty much everything else? I am far from a neat-freak, and don't mind clutter, for the most part. I pile, I toss clothes on surfaces, I shuffle my piles. It's never ending.

I get motivated to de-clutter when...the clutter piles up high enough on my counters, table, ottoman, the floor...Seriously, there have been times where I've walked into my home and nearly clawed my own eyes out because the mess was driving me crazy. For real though, whenever I have guests over, I do a general sweep, putting things away, hanging up clothes, that stuff, so it's pretty rare to be completely

I need to give myself permission to get rid of...oh heck no, I give myself permission to get rid of everything. I usually clean out my closet a few times a year and donate the clothes, and have no problem throwing away everything else whenever I need to.

My blog friend turned writer friend Rachel Robinson has just released her newest book A WEEK EARLY!! It. is. amazing. And, yes, that would be 4 books released in just over a year, can you believe it?! Rachel is a total rock star. I personally believe this is her best work so far, and I know that it will do very well. After publishing her first three books with a traditional publishing house, she has ventured out on her own to self-publish Crazy Good. I want you all to help support her in this very personal endeavor, and go grab a copy as soon as you finish reading this. I may have had a beta copy to read while it was being written, but you better believe I was on Amazon one-clicking this onto my Kindle as soon as the earlier-than-expected release was made known.

Crazy Good needs to be in your hands or on your e-reader immediately. It's a Nay SEAL romance told from alternating viewpoints, and Maverick Hart is hands down your next book boyfriend. Be warned, I had a few complete and total meltdowns while reading this. So much so that I threw choice expletives back at Rachel when I was giving her my feedback for those chapters. I sobbed. Ugly tears. BUT! I loved the ending, so there you go.

Before there were bikers, or fighters, or even good old-fashioned jerks, there were Navy SEALs. They put the bad in badass because, well…it’s their job. Navy SEAL Maverick Hart has everything. Women want him. Grown men idolize him. Little boys want to grow up and be like him. The job, the glory—it’s all his. Not because it’s handed to him…because he works hard for it. The second his sights lock on something, he owns it—or destroys it. Unfortunately he does both at the same time. Windsor Forbes only takes calculated risks in her profession and in her personal life. After being left at the altar by the only person she’s ever loved, the very last thing she’s looking for is a relationship—especially the insane brand an arrogant Navy SEAL is offering. Hesitant, yet trusting to a fault, she gives in. She knew she shouldn’t take the chance, especially a second time, but love is irrational and their love is perfect, infallible. Or so she thought… The downfall to having everything is you have that much more to lose. A man like Maverick can’t have it all without something slipping out of grasp. Crazy people perish for love. Good people live for it. Love doesn’t die. No matter how many bullets you put in it.

Rachel grew up in a small, quiet town full of loud talkers. Her words were always only loud on paper. She has been writing stories and creating characters for as long as she can remember. After living on the west coast for many years she recently moved to Virginia Beach, VA.

4.03.2014

As you probably have figured out, I love me some Casey, and her having a twin sister in Jamie makes for twice the fun. So, Casey and Jamie over at Real Suburbia have this awesome Wednesday Twinsday blog post they do, and every time I read their answers, I am coming up with my own. I guess I sort of wish I was a twin? So when I saw yesterday's post where they asked the readers to play along, I used it as an excuse to create a whole blog post off of it. You're welcome to do the same thing if you're lacking inspiration or just want to play along. ;)

Best kept secret: I hate secrets and I am pretty much an open book. I am also a terrible liar, which makes keeping secrets pretty difficult. I will keep secrets that my clients tell me while I'm doing their hair. I mean, who am I going to tell? hahaha I can just imagine y'all saying "well, duh! Us!!" Nope.

Best way to unwind: by becoming a hermit and getting cozy with a good book. Give me a fridge of sustenance and a pile of books and you might not hear from me for awhile. I'm quite slothful and love to be still, to balance out all of my crazy energy. Can you say extroverted introvert? Or the other way around.

Best way to feel beautiful: take the time to make myself up. You gotta fake it till you make it, darlin'. If I put a full face of makeup on, do my hair up, and put on a nice outfit, 9 times out of 10 I'll feel much better. I also thrive on compliments, and the best way to get those is to put in the effort. Although Billy will often give me compliments when I am feeling particularly heinous. His little comments like "Dem thighs! I just want to bite 'em!" make me laugh, and pick up my spirits.

Best quick workout: a hard run. I have horrible runs, and good runs. Long or short. As long as I get out there and do it, I've won. And trust me, it's hard enough for me to just get out the door most days.

Best recent read: I'm currently reading Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover and loving it. I am a total CH fan girl, and just love all of her books. I read Hopeless last year, and this is the companion told from the male protagonist's POV. I met Colleen and had her sign a paperback copy of Losing Hope, and I have had it on my Kindle forever, so I'm surprised I've waited this long to read it. It's so good.

Best Wardrobe staple: good jeans. I have a hard time finding jeans that fit just right, and stay within a reasonable budget, because this girl absolutely will not spend over $50 on pants. If I can find a nice pair of jeans that hug where they are supposed and don't gap like crazy between my big thighs and my no butt, I consider myself lucky. I'm always on the hunt, so give me your suggestions if you have them!

Now don't you want to play along as well? I am sure Casey and Jamie would love for you to comment on their blog post letting them know what your bests are, and maybe link back to your post if you wrote one like I did.